Coming Home to Winter Island by Jo Thomas

Coming Home to Winter Island

Jo Thomas

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

Wrap up warm and explore the breath-taking beauty of a remote Scottish island and an old house waiting to unlock enchanting family secrets.

Fans of Jill Mansell and Milly Johnson will love this irresistible new winter novel from Jo Thomas.

Do you need to find out where you've come from before you can know what the future holds?

Ruby's singing career is on the verge of hitting the big time, when her voice breaks. Fearing her career is over, she signs up for a retreat in Tenerife to recover.

But an unexpected call from a stranger on a remote Scottish island takes her on a short trip to sort out some family business. It's time to go and see the grandfather she's never met.

City girl Ruby knows she will be happy to leave the windswept beaches behind as quickly as she can, especially as a years-old family rift means she knows she won't be welcome at Teach Mhor.

But as she arrives at the big house overlooking the bay, she finds things are not as straightforward as she might have thought.

There's an unexpected guest in the house and he's not planning on going anywhere any time soon ...

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As always I couldn't wait to delve straight into another Jo Thomas novel. Jo Thomas was one of the first authors I read when I first started reading Chick Lit books - and I haven't regretted it! Every book of hers I read is so refreshing and unputdownable that I remember them for a long time afterwards. This one in particular I really loved the cover, I love the light snow falling, the sea and the main character in the bottom right.

The synopsis sounded really interesting and completely different, as I said above, to what I've read before and I was really excited to read more about Ruby and her story. I enjoyed that the setting was in Scotland, it sounded so picturesque and idyllic. It was interesting to see what was going to happen and whether Ruby was was going to stick around on the island or whether she was going to flee back home.

Out of all the characters (there aren't actually too many in this novel), I really liked Hector and Lachlan the best. Hector because of what he was going through bless him, and Lachlan because he just seemed to be so caring and thoughtful. A few characters I didn't really take too (but maybe that's the point) was Isla and Joe. And too be fair, what I thought was going to happen didn't happen so there was quite a bit of surprise and a few twists along the way which kept me wanting to read on.

One thing I didn't enjoy was the ending with regards to Hector, I didn't think anything like that would happen and was disappointed that it did as it didn't seem necessary - bless him! It definitely made me teary-eyed and I was left quite emotional afterwards! Overall though, it was a great read with festive feels and I really enjoyed it. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

A Christmas Wish and a Cranberry Kiss at the Cosy Kettle by Liz Eeles

A Christmas Wish and a Cranberry Kiss at the Cosy Kettle

Liz Eeles

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

Fans of Milly Johnson and Phillipa Ashley, the Cosy Kettle cafe is waiting for you to find a comfy spot by the fire and snuggle up with a steaming mug of hot chocolate. Amidst the twinkling lights and falling snowflakes, Becca has a wish to make this Christmas...

Running from heartbreak, twenty-five-year-old Becca has moved to the cosy village of Honeyford. Living with her best friend Zac in a little stone cottage, and serving mince pies and steaming gingerbread lattes at the Cosy Kettle, is the perfect escape from her past.

But starting over isn't always plain sailing, and Becca's shyness is holding her back from making her mark on the cafe. To make matters worse, her crush on blond-haired, blue-eyed local heartthrob Logan gets stronger by the day - but he can barely remember her name. So as the snow starts to fall in Honeyford, Becca has one big Christmas wish: to completely reinvent herself. Becca dreams of brining the Cosy Kettle success and finding romance with Logan under the mistletoe.

As she gets a makeover, cosies up to Logan over mulled wine and plans the most festive celebration the cafe has ever seen, Becca wonders why she waited so long to step out of her comfort zone... Zac, on the other hand, thought she was perfect before - always caring for others - and he misses the quirky girl with the bright blue hair.

When Logan turns out to not be all he seems, Becca is left wondering if he's really the one for her. With her party plans also going awry, can Becca save her beloved Cosy Kettle in time for Christmas? And has the key to her happiness been in front of her all along?

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Oh I couldn't wait to delve into this delightful, festive novel! The cover completely drew me in with it's pretty fairy lights, mouthwatering treats lined along the bottom. I love the bright, Christmassy colours used and to me it's the most beautiful cover. I was wondering when we would get to learn more about the shy and anxious Becca, and I'm glad we're finally getting to read her story.

At first, as with the other novels, I wasn't sure what to make or think of Becca. Yes, I understood that she was anxious and unsure on life, but she seemed a little standoffish and not very likeable to begin with. However, as the story went on, we learn more about her and realise her ways. Once I began to know her a little more, I begun to like her more too. Again, like the other novels, I absolutely loved the setting of this novel. It sounded so idyllic and even more so at Christmas time.

One thing I really loved is that we had the bookclub gang back again. They're such a unique and fun bunch. My favourite is definitely Stanley, the way he talks and acts just makes me laugh and he adds such a lightheartedness to every novel. One character who I would love to learn more about is Millicent. She seems a strange and withdrawn character, like she is hiding something, so I'd love to read more about her! I'm hoping there's another in the series and we get to read about her!

I kind of knew where this story was going about a third of the way in, but I was happy with where it was going. I don't want to give too much away but I'm happy with the outcome and who Becca ended up with. They seem like such a suited couple and I'm pleased it worked out the way it did. I really couldn't stand Logan, he seemed so up himself and I wasn't too keen on Jasmine either. Apart from those two characters the others were really likeable.

Overall, a really heartwarming and festive story that I really loved. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley which I have reviewed honestly.

Christmas at Rachel's Pudding Pantry by Caroline Roberts

Christmas at Rachel's Pudding Pantry

Caroline Roberts

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

 *Doors open at Rachel's Pudding Pantry again for Christmas!*

Cosy up with the new novel in the Pudding Pantry series, full of love, laughter, kisses under the mistletoe, and plenty of delicious pudding!

The first snow is falling over Primrose Farm, the mince pies are warming, and Rachel can't wait to share a kiss under the mistletoe with her gorgeous new flame, Tom.

If only it was all comfort and joy . . . The arrival of Tom's ex brings an unwelcome chill to the farm. And despite Master Baker Mum Jill's valiant efforts, the new pudding pantry business is feeling the pinch. 

With a spoonful of festive spirit, a cupful of goodwill with friends, and her messy, wonderful family by her side, can Rachel make this a Christmas to remember?

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What a delightfully festive and mouthwatering read by the talented Caroline Roberts. I had been looking forward to reading this since I had seen the cover revealed on Twitter quite some weeks ago. I really loved the first in the series, it was so deliciously heart warming (as well as mouthwatering!) that I had hoped there would be another one. The cover is so Christmassy and pretty I was so excited to be back at Rachel's Pudding Pantry.

I adore Caroline Roberts' style of writing, the way she describes the cakes and sweet treats has you wishing that you could to go to the Pantry right there and then if it were real! I also love the way Caroline writes about the relationships in the novel, it makes you feel warm and happy with how close the family and friends all are. The community spirit in this novel is massive and this particular story is just a joy to read.

With this particular story, Rachel and her mum Jill are struggling to make ends meet with their new cafe, the Pudding Pantry, which is held at their farm. The treat they have on offer sound amazing and the customers are so caring and helpful. My favourite in this book was Granny Ruth, she was just so cute and lovely and Frank was another firm favourite in my book! The idea behind the Pudding Club was genius and the characters who all joined got on really well and was enjoyable to read about all the different puddings.

Although this novel is based around Rachel and her relationship with Tom, at the beginning there isn't much about the pair and the novel is more on Rachel and everything she is doing to keep the farm and the pudding pantry afloat. I would have liked to have read more about them as it seems like the ending was a little rushed but overall it was an amazing read and I loved reading about all the different puddings, the relationships between Jill, Rachel, Maisy and Granny Ruth and of course, I loved the Christmas spirit!

Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.